Page 9 of The Miracle of Love
She watched him as he left her side and began to remove articles from his travel pouch.
Did he think to settle in here with her? “What are you doing?”
“You and I are going to be joined at the hip from now on.”
Grace shook her head. “We assuredly will not. For starters, you said we have a week before these foreign agents will ask for me to be handed over. Where is the need to share quarters now? We must discuss this. You–”
“No discussion. It is decided. I am not letting you out of my sight.”
“Deklan!” Even his mother was aghast at the notion of their sharing quarters.
Grace clenched her hands at her sides. “Is this how we are to cooperate with each other? You making arbitrary rules and I am required to obey them?”
“Yes.” He resumed unpacking the articles in his travel pouch.
“That is the most highhanded, insufferable thing I have ever heard.” She gathered each item as he removed it and attempted to stuff them all back in the pouch.
“Grace, stop. I am exhausted, and you will not change my mind, so just let me prepare for bed.”
“You are not sleeping in my bed.”
Dear heaven.
The very idea.
Well, it was a delicious idea but one that would sink her further into ruin. “Even if these horrid men try to abduct me tomorrow, how can they break into Lady Miranda’s house undetected while she has a full staff and the rafters packed with visiting family?Yourfamily. Who in their right mind would dare take on the Brayden clan? So, I doubt anything is going to happen to me here.”
He frowned at her. “That attitude will get you abducted for certain. Stop arguing and let me do my job. I did not gain my reputation by being an idiot. They will be sending their best agents to grab you.”
“But–”
“Is this about my kissing you? Are you afraid I will do it again?”
His mother groaned. “You kissed Grace?”
Oh, heavens.
Why had she riled this man who was only trying to help her?
Was she not in desperate need of allies?
He shrugged. “Look at her. Who can resist? Besides, it seemed like the convenient thing to do. I was curious. I’ve never kissed a virgin before.”
“Deklan!” His mother and aunt were once again scowling at him.
“And I’ve never kissed an idiot before,” Grace shot back. “Especially one who paints the face of a snake on his backside.”
“It is called a tattoo. It isn’t paint. And I would not worry about the snake’s face so much as I would about the snake’s tail getting too close to you.”
She had no idea what he meant by that.
However, his aunt and mother seemed to understand the remark. His aunt slapped him on the back of his head. “Behave yourself in my home. You had better keep thattailfirmly inside your pants.”
Grace finally understood.
Oh, mighty heaven.
This is the man she had to trust?
